2023-12-12
2 Corinthians 1:18 NLT
Paul writes, “Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say ‘Yes’ when they really mean ‘No’? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver” (vv.17-18 NLT). Paul had learned to set boundaries on his relationships, and you must do the same. A wise man said, “Never complain about what you permit.” Unless you set boundaries, you have no right to complain about people who take advantage of you and waste your time.
“Jesus… does not waver between ‘Yes’ and ‘No’… he always does what he says” (v. 19 NLT). And as His follower, you must learn when it’s appropriate to say yes and when it’s appropriate to say no. When people back you into a corner, confront them promptly, privately, and personally. And if they won’t listen, take someone with you. And if they won’t listen to both of you, take it to the church leadership (See Matthew 18:15-17). Be clear about what you will and won’t tolerate. In the words of the country song, “You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.”
Get comfortable voicing your wishes and preferences without fear of rejection and alienation. Make this your prayer today: “Lord, let me serve and give to others from a pure heart rather than a need for love and acceptance. On the authority of your Word, I command the spirit of fear that has prevented me from setting healthy boundaries to leave now. I place my trust in you. I will not fear what people can do to me (See Psalm 56:11). In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Soul food: Josh 19:24-21:45; John 16:1-11; Ps 150; Prov 29:22-27
2 Korintiërs 1:18 NLV
Paulus skryf: ‘Was ek miskien wispelturig toe ek hierdie plan gemaak het? Of doen ek my beplanning volgens menslike oorwegings, met die gevolg dat dit by my gaan oor ‘n besliste ‘ja’ as ek eintlik ‘n besliste ‘nee’ bedoel? God is die betroubaarheid self. Hy weet dat ons woord teenoor julle nie ‘ja’ en terselfdertyd ‘nee’ is nie’ (verse 17-18 NLV).
Paulus het geleer om grense in sy verhoudings te stel en jy moet dieselfde doen. ‘n Wyse man het een keer gesê: ‘Moet nooit kla oor dit wat jy toelaat nie.’ Tensy jy grense stel, het jy geen reg om oor mense wat jou misbruik en jou tyd mors, te kla nie. ‘…Christus Jesus… is nie terselfdertyd ‘ja’ en ‘nee’ nie…’ (vers 19 NLV). As sy volgeling, moet jy leer wanneer dit toepaslik is om ja te sê en wanneer dit toepaslik is om nee te sê.
Wanneer mense jou in ‘n hoek druk, moet jy hulle onmiddellik, privaat en persoonlik konfronteer. As hulle nie wil luister nie, neem iemand saam met jou. As hulle nie na altwee van julle wil luister nie, neem dit na die kerk se leierskap toe (sien Matteus 18:15-17). Wees duidelik oor dit wat jy sal en nie sal verdra nie. Raak gemaklik daarmee om jou wense en voorkeure sonder die vrees van verwerping en vervreemding, uit te druk.
Maak die volgende jou gebed vandag: ‘Here, laat my ander vanuit ‘n rein hart, eerder as uit ‘n behoefte aan liefde en aanvaarding, dien. Op die gesag van u Woord beveel ek die gees van vrees wat my verhoed om gesonde grense te stel, om onmiddellik weg te gaan. Ek plaas my vertroue in U. Ek sal nie dit wat mense aan my kan doen, vrees nie (sien Psalm 56:12). In Jesus se Naam. Amen.’
Sielskos: Jos 19:24-21:45; Joh 16:1-11; Ps 150; Spr 29:22-27
2023-12-11
Psalm 148:8 NAS
The winds were contrary when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they were contrary on their way to the promised land, and they were contrary when they got there. There is no such thing as a storm-free voyage: “Through… hardships and tribulations we… enter the kingdom” (Acts 14:22 AMPC).
When you have to fight to stay afloat day after day, it’s easy to get discouraged. Paul said, “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days… all hope… we would be saved was… given up” (Acts 27:20 NKJV). Maybe you’re weary and discouraged because of what you’re battling. You’re ready to call it quits – and humanly speaking, nobody would blame you.
But before you give up, ask yourself this: What if God is the One engineering this storm to get you where you need to go? What if He is the One who “spoke and raised a stormy wind” (Psalm 107:25 NAS), so you would have to keep your eyes on Him? What if He is the One who “hurled a great wind on the sea” (Jonah 1:4 NAS), to see if you would keep the faith when you can’t see the far shore?
A psalmist tells us God uses “fire… hail, snow… clouds [and] stormy wind” to fulfill His word. In Exodus 10, He “directed an east wind on the land all… day… and… night; and… it… brought the locusts… [He] shifted the wind to a very strong west wind, which picked up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea” (vv. 13, 19 NAS). One author adds, “When the Lord fought for Israel… stormy winds brought about their deliverance… And one day, by God’s great mercy, we too shall stand upon the sea of glass and see how stormy winds brought about our deliverance.”
Soul food: Josh 16:1-19:23; John 15:18-27; Ps 148:7-14; Prov 29:16-21
Psalm 148:8 NLV
Die winde was teen Moses toe hy die Israeliete uit Egipte gelei het, dit was teen hulle op pad na die Beloofde Land en dit was teen hulle toe hulle daar aankom. Daar is nie so iets soos ‘n reis sonder storms nie: ‘…Ons moet eers deur baie verdrukking gaan voordat ons voluit aan die koningsheerskappy van God kan deel hê…’ (Handelinge 14:22 NLV).
Wanneer jy dag na dag moet veg om kop bo water te hou, is dit maklik om moedeloos te raak. Paulus het gesê: ‘Baie dae lank het die son en die sterre nie eers deurgekom nie… Uiteindelik is alle hoop laat vaar dat ons gered sou word’ (Handelinge 27:20 NLV). Voor jy egter tou opgooi, vra jouself die volgende af: Wat as God die Een is wat die storm gestuur het om jou te kry waarheen jy moet gaan? Wat as Hy die Een is wat: ‘…praat, en die winde steek op, en die golwe word al hoër’ (Psalm 107:25 NLV), sodat jy jou oë op Hom moet hou? Wat as Hy die een is wat: ‘…’n sterk wind oor die see laat opkom…’ (Jona 1:4 NLV), om te kyk of jy jou geloof behou wanneer jy nie land kan sien nie?
In Eksodus 10 het Hy: ‘…die hele dag en ook deur die nag ‘n oostewind laat waai… die wind [het] die sprinkane begin aanbring… Hy het ‘n sterk wind uit die weste laat waai wat die sprinkane in die Rietsee ingewaai het…’ (verse 13, 19 NLV). Een skrywer voeg by: ‘Toe die Here vir Israel geveg het, het stormwinde hulle verlossing teweeggebring. Eendag, deur God se groot genade, sal ons ook op die see van glas staan en sien hoe stormwinde ons verlossing teweegbring.’
Sielskos: Jos 16:1-19:23; Joh 15:18-27; Ps 148:7-14; Spr 29:16-21
2023-12-10
Acts 27:10 RSV
Paul told everyone on board the ship bound for Rome, “The voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but… our lives” (v. 10 RSV). One author writes: “Paul didn’t talk about a little skirmish… a little loss… This voyage would be beset with disasters, with much loss, even to their lives… To Paul this journey meant eventual martyrdom. However, Paul would not die until his mission was completed, until he would strike a fatal blow at the heart of the Roman Empire, its political genius, military supremacy… pride and pomp.
When Paul walked into Rome with the Gospel, hell shook and all heaven rejoiced. We are all beneficiaries because that little battle-scarred man with a chain around his ankle started to convert many in Rome [and gave] us the books of Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon while he was the prisoner of Jesus Christ… [These phrases] from Acts 27 bring this journey more to life: The winds were contrary… we sailed slowly… passing with difficulty… sailing was now dangerous… tempestuous winds arose… we secured the skiff with difficulty… we used cables to undergird the ship… exceedingly tempest tossed… we threw the ship’s tackle overboard… neither sun nor stars appeared for many days… all hope that we would get saved was given up… the stern was broken up.”
The destination is within reach – but not without “much loss.” Thank God that’s not the end of the story. The centurion, “wishing to save Paul… commanded those who could swim to throw themselves overboard… and make for the shore… the rest on… pieces of the vessel… escaped safely to land.” (Acts 27:43-44 AMPC). When you keep your eyes on Jesus, you will make it in spite of the storm. Guaranteed!
Soul food: 2 Sam 6:11-23; Luke 18:18-30
